 |
Previous Article | Next Article 
Volume 16, Number 16,
Issue of August 15, 1996
pp. 4861-4871
Copyright ©1996 Society for Neuroscience
Changes in the Electrical Properties of Supraoptic Nucleus
Oxytocin and Vasopressin Neurons during Lactation
Received Feb. 14, 1996; revised May 16, 1996; accepted May 21, 1996.
Javier E. Stern and
William E. Armstrong
Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, College of Medicine,
University of Tennessee, Memphis, Tennessee 38163
Magnocellular oxytocin (OT) and vasopressin (VP) neurons adopt
different firing patterns in response to relevant physiological
stimuli. OT neurons selectively display short (2-4 sec),
high-frequency bursts of action potentials that are highly synchronized
and correlated with OT release during lactation. The present
experiments were done to determine whether the electrophysiological
properties of OT neurons differ from those of VP neurons, and whether
these properties are modulated during lactation to support short
bursting activity. Intracellular recordings in vitro were
obtained from immunochemically identified supraoptic neurons of
diestrous or lactating female rats. Resting membrane potential, input
resistance, membrane time constant, and the depolarizing afterpotential
did not differ among groups. However, near spike threshold, OT, but not
VP, neurons expressed a sustained outward rectification that was
removed by small hyperpolarizing pulses and a rebound depolarization
that occurred at the offset of these hyperpolarizing pulses. The
rebound depolarization was short (<2 sec), supported brief bursts of
action potentials, and was significantly larger during lactation.
Neurons expressing the outward rectification also exhibited strong
spike frequency adaptation during prolonged (1-4 sec) depolarization.
Spike width, the Ca2+-dependent
afterhyperpolarization, and the degree of spike broadening of OT, but
not VP, neurons were also larger during lactation, suggesting an
increase in Ca2+ influx per spike. The results
indicate that OT neurons possess properties favoring the expression of
short spike trains, and that some of these properties are enhanced
during lactation. In addition, spikes in OT neurons may promote more
Ca2+ influx in this state.
Key words:
electrophysiology;
oxytocin;
vasopressin;
lactation;
supraoptic nucleus;
magnocellular cells
This article has been cited by other articles:

|
 |

|
 |
 
C. B. Roberts and K. J. Suter
Emerging methodologies for the study of hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing-hormone (GnRH) neurons
Integr. Comp. Biol.,
November 1, 2008;
48(5):
548 - 559.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
R. Teruyama, D. L. Lipschitz, L. Wang, G. R. Ramoz, W. R. Crowley, S. L. Bealer, and W. E. Armstrong
Central blockade of oxytocin receptors during mid-late gestation reduces amplitude of slow afterhyperpolarization in supraoptic oxytocin neurons
Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab,
November 1, 2008;
295(5):
E1167 - E1171.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
W. E. Armstrong
The neurophysiology of neurosecretory cells
J. Physiol.,
December 15, 2007;
585(3):
645 - 647.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
R. Teruyama and W. E. Armstrong
Calcium-Dependent Fast Depolarizing Afterpotentials in Vasopressin Neurons in the Rat Supraoptic Nucleus
J Neurophysiol,
November 1, 2007;
98(5):
2612 - 2621.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
C. Boudaba and J. G. Tasker
Internuclear coupling of hypothalamic magnocellular nuclei by glutamate synaptic circuits
Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol,
July 1, 2006;
291(1):
R102 - R111.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
R. Teruyama and W. E Armstrong
Enhancement of calcium-dependent afterpotentials in oxytocin neurons of the rat supraoptic nucleus during lactation
J. Physiol.,
July 15, 2005;
566(2):
505 - 518.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
T. Shevchenko, R. Teruyama, and W. E. Armstrong
High-Threshold, Kv3-Like Potassium Currents in Magnocellular Neurosecretory Neurons and Their Role in Spike Repolarization
J Neurophysiol,
November 1, 2004;
92(5):
3043 - 3055.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
A. K. Greenwood and R. D. Fernald
Social Regulation of the Electrical Properties of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Neurons in a Cichlid Fish (Astatotilapia burtoni)
Biol Reprod,
September 1, 2004;
71(3):
909 - 918.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
J. ANTUNES-RODRIGUES, M. DE CASTRO, L. L. K. ELIAS, M. M. VALENCA, and S. M. McCANN
Neuroendocrine Control of Body Fluid Metabolism
Physiol Rev,
January 1, 2004;
84(1):
169 - 208.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
J. Han, C. Gnatenco, C. D Sladek, and D. Kim
Background and tandem-pore potassium channels in magnocellular neurosecretory cells of the rat supraoptic nucleus
J. Physiol.,
February 1, 2003;
546(3):
625 - 639.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. J Follwell and A. V Ferguson
Cellular mechanisms of orexin actions on paraventricular nucleus neurones in rat hypothalamus
J. Physiol.,
December 15, 2002;
545(3):
855 - 867.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
R. A. DeFazio and S. M. Moenter
Estradiol Feedback Alters Potassium Currents and Firing Properties of Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Neurons
Mol. Endocrinol.,
October 1, 2002;
16(10):
2255 - 2265.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. Ghamari-Langroudi and C. W Bourque
Ionic basis of the caesium-induced depolarisation in rat supraoptic nucleus neurones
J. Physiol.,
November 1, 2001;
536(3):
797 - 808.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
B. F. Mitchell and B. Schmid
Oxytocin and its Receptor in the Process of Parturition
Reproductive Sciences,
May 1, 2001;
8(3):
122 - 133.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
J. E Stern, S. Hestrin, and W. E Armstrong
Enhanced neurotransmitter release at glutamatergic synapses on oxytocin neurones during lactation in the rat
J. Physiol.,
July 1, 2000;
526(1):
109 - 114.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
J.-M. Israel and D. A Poulain
17{beta}-Oestradiol modulates in vitro electrical properties and responses to kainate of oxytocin neurones in lactating rats
J. Physiol.,
April 15, 2000;
524(2):
457 - 470.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
A B Brussaard, P Devay, J L Leyting-Vermeulen, and K. S Kits
Changes in properties and neurosteroid regulation of GABAergic synapses in the supraoptic nucleus during the mammalian female reproductive cycle
J. Physiol.,
April 15, 1999;
516(2):
513 - 524.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
T. E Fisher, D. L Voisin, and C. W Bourque
Density of transient K+ current influences excitability in acutely isolated vasopressin and oxytocin neurones of rat hypothalamus
J. Physiol.,
September 1, 1998;
511(2):
423 - 432.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
M. Ghamari-Langroudi and C. W Bourque
Caesium blocks depolarizing after-potentials and phasic firing in rat supraoptic neurones
J. Physiol.,
July 1, 1998;
510(1):
165 - 175.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
J. E. Stern and W. E. Armstrong
Reorganization of the Dendritic Trees of Oxytocin and Vasopressin Neurons of the Rat Supraoptic Nucleus during Lactation
J. Neurosci.,
February 1, 1998;
18(3):
841 - 853.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|

|
 |

|
 |
 
W. E. Armstrong and J. E. Stern
Electrophysiological and Morphological Characteristics of Neurons in Perinuclear Zone of Supraoptic Nucleus
J Neurophysiol,
November 1, 1997;
78(5):
2427 - 2437.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
 |
|
|

|